WEBVTT TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHANGE.TONY HOFFMAN SAYS TAKING DRUGSIS LIKE WALKING THROUGH A DOOR.A DOOR YOU CAN'T JUST EASILYWALK BACK OUT OF.TONY: UNLESS YOU FIGHT, CRAWL,SCREAM AND SCRATCH YOUR WAY BACKTHROUGH THAT DOOR.THAT MEANS CHANGE EVERY SINGLEASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.WHO YOU HANG OUT WITH, HOW YOUTALK, HOW YOU WALK, PLACES YOUGO, PLACES YOU DON'T GO, EVERYSINGLE THING HAS TO CHANGE.IF YOU WANT BACK THROUGH THATDOOR.MORGAN: HOFFMAN SPOKE TO THREETHOUSAND STUDENTS IN SOUTHERNMAINE ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES AS ANADDICT IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THEMFROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES HEDID.TONY: TRYING IT WAS ULTIMATELYWHAT TOOK ME DOWN THE DARK PATHAND THAT'S WHAT I TELL KIDS.YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWN THATPATH IF YOU DON'T TRY IT.YOU'RE BETTER OFF WITHT IT.YOU DON'T NEED IT.MORGAN: IN A SPECIAL EVENINGSESSION HE SPOKE WITH COMMUNITYMEMBERS OPENLY ABOUT HOW HEBEGIN DOING AND SELLING PILLS.HIS ADDICTION TO DRUGS INCLUDINGHEROIN HOW HE TURNED TO ARMEDROBBERY FOR PILLS, LIVED ON THESTREETS, CAME CLOSE TO DEATH,WENT TO JAIL, AND FOUND HIS WAYBACK TO RACING AFTER RECOVERY,AND IS NOW TRAVELING THE COUNTRYTO MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT ANDINSPIRE THE COMMUNITY TO HELPWITH TREATMENT, EDUCATION ANDPREVENTION.>> I THINK A LOT OF US PARENTS,UM, THINK WE'RE DOING THE RIGHTTHING AND HOPE WE'RE DOING THERIGHT THING BUT YOU NEVER KNOWIF THOSE CHOICES ARE GOING TO BEOUT THERE FOR OUR KIDS ANDTHEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT STEPAND MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE.>> I WANT TO BE PART OF THESOLUTION NOW.MORGAN: CHRIS WENTWORTH IS ARECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT WHOSAYS HE CAME TO SEE HOFFMANSPEAK AND COULD IDENTIFY WITHHIS STORY.HE WORK WITH MATTHEW BRAUN, THEBIDDEFORD CHAPTER LEAD OF THENATIONAL NON-PROFIT YOUNG PEOPLEIN RECOVERY, A RECOVERING ADDICTHIMSELMATTHEW: I WAS INTRODUCED TORECOVERY AND I FOUND THAT, FOUNDPEOPLE WHO EMPOWERED ME ANDUPLIFTED ME AND SAID YOU MATTERAND YOUR VOICE MATTERS.MORGAN: THEY'RE HOPING TO HELPYOUTH IN THE AREA AND HOPEPEOPLE REALLY HEAR HOFFMAN'SMESSAGE AND WORK TO ENDADDICTION IN THEIR COMMUNITY.>> RECOVERY IS DEFINITELYPOSSIBLE.IT SAVED MY LIFE.DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT FORHELP.WE'RE HERE.MORGAN: HOFFMAN ALSO SPOKE ABOUTTHE FREEWHEEL PROJECT HISNON-PROFIT BMX RACINGORGANIZATION ALL ABOUTENCOURAGING KIDS TO LEADDRUG-FREE LIVES.

A BMX racer spent Monday afternoon talking about his experience with substance abuse and encouraging local kids not to make the same mistakes.

Tony Hoffman shared firsthand stories about his personal battle with drugs in front of a crowd at Biddeford Middle School. He also talked to students at Thornton Academy earlier in the day.

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Hoffman said taking drugs is similar to walking through a door, but it’s nearly impossible to walk back out.

"You fight, crawl, scream and scratch your way back through that door. That means change every single aspect of your life: who you hang out with, how you talk, how you walk, places you go, places you don't go – every single thing has to change,” he said.

Hoffman spoke to nearly 3,000 students, as well as community members.

His presentation outlined his addiction to drugs, including heroin, and how he turned to armed robbery to satisfy his habit.

Hoffman went to jail for several years before deciding to turn his life around.

For parents in attendance, it was a stark reminder.

"I think a lot of us parents think we're doing the right thing and hope we're doing the right thing, but you never know if those choices are going to be out there for our kids,” LeeAnn Dutremble explained.

For one particular audience member, Hoffman’s message hit close to home.

Chris Wentworth is a recovering heroin addict who came to the event because he can relate to Hoffman’s struggles. However, he emphasized that there is hope for those dealing with drug addiction.

"Recovery is definitely possible. It saved my life. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. We're here,” Wentworth said.

In addition to public speaking, Hoffman runs a nonprofit BMX racing organization that inspires kids to lead drug-free lives.